Just got my Escort Passport 8500 It was on sale at Best Buy for $284 (reg. $299) I will let u guys know how well it works.

 

How does the passport compare to the Valentine 1? I was in a local audio shop the other day, and saw numerous adds for the detector kind that had lights installed in the dash by the speedometer. K-40 i think. The ad had a lot of hype on it, but wanted to ask around before buying into it. I have pretty much decided that the ones from Sears are not worth a flip.

 

shutdown, at www.radartest.com , they gave the Passport 8500 a 97 score and the Valentine 1 a 77. Read what they have to say. I like the Passport b/c u can update it somputer when the cops get new lasers/radar bands, so it will never become out-of-date. I t is also a ton easier to install than the Valentine 1 b/c i think the Valentine 1 has to be installed in a compartment or sumthing, and the Pasport is just like a regular winshield mount radar. I guess u could take out the ashtray/lighter in the front of the SC and put the Valentine in there . I waited a long time before gettin the Passport b/c i was looking around and asking questions just like u. If u need more help or info, lemme know.

 

A friend of mine uses some sort of jamming system that puts out crazy numbers on the radar. I dont know if this is a commercial thing, but i think it is just a modification. He has a z28 and is WOT all the time. Clean driving record, and he doesn't even have one of the "I support State Troopers" stickers, which is just about as good as a radar detector when it comes to keeping you out of tickets. If you can stand the clean lines of your SC being broken up, that sticker does wonders. That, the support for fallen cops, and more along those lines. I know military, fed and state employees can get out with their IDs.

 

I'm a die hard Passport 8500 fan. I think it's clearly the best.

There have been numerous threads on the 8500/ V1 / Jammer topic on the site. If you search for them you'll get lots of info.

 

I have an 8500 in mine with the remote display which I put in the corner by the windshield. Perfect for my field of vision, better than the leds on the k40 in my 400!

 

I have a k-40 superwide radar in my car and it picks up everything. Its going to cost more but its worth it. The best thing is i dont have to look at a box on my dashboard. Its hidden in the front of you car and in the back. It picks up signals before i can even see the cop.I highly recomend the k-40 superwide.

 

Supposedly the reviewer in radartest.com has a personal problem with Mike Valentine. I forget the whole story, but I wouldn't trust the test results from the radartest.com article. Mike Valentine was the brains behind Escort to begin with, and since he left, Escort has gone down hill, been through bankruptcy, sold, and is just now getting back on its feet.

I understand that the Passport 8500 is a great product, and may be on par in some areas with the Valentine 1... I own a lower priced Passport, and it's o.k., but its performance is not stellar, especially on KA band. On the flip side, Escort's support is great, supplying me with all the suction cups and cords I could ever want at no charge, even long after the warranty. I could probably bring in a Passport squashed by a hammer, and they'd replace it no questions asked.... They're really that good.

Both companies are within a few miles of my home, so I'm familiar with their operations.

That said, I'd still choose the Valentine 1 for its flexibility and unmatched directional indicator.

BTW... The Valentine 1 does not require any fancy mounting scheme, although it is a bit larger than the Passport, with its large rear antenna.

 

That's news to me! Tell me, how exactly does the process work? I'd LOVE to know.

Thanks,

Brian

 

That sounds kind of high man, the Best Buy by my house only wants 200 for it. Well anyway, tell me how it turns out! I just got a Bel 840i for 5 bucks but I haven't had time to get the adapter it needs yet, I have no idea what the thing can do.

P.S. How much does a V1 go for? Someone said they had a combo of a scrambler which scrambles for 5 seconds and a V1 that picks it up in those 5 seconds, enough time for you to slow down. Anyone kno anything about that?

 

Most officers are ex-military, and look out for their fellow troops. As for the employees, many of my friends have parents that work for the government. When they ask for ID, just ask them "State or Federal?" Note, if you are pulled over at night, TURN ON YOUR INTERIOR LIGHT! I cannot stress that enough. Cops are scared to death of walking up to a car at night because they do not know what is going on in the car. Sit tight and you will automatically be put in the good catagory with the officer. Believe me, they feel a lot safer when the light is on and they can see you, and the odds are for you getting out of it. Of course, if you are military, you can get the license plate with the armed forces symbol and not get pulled over to start with! Same goes for military stickers.

 

Francis,

Are you sure those were Passport 8500s and not a lower model like the 7500 or 4500? I've never heard of a new 8500 (that hadn't "fallen off of the truck") selling for less than $279.

 

that was the one I was looking for specifically, they had a huge display and they had them piled up all over the place, must have bought out the wharehouse or somthing. They were 209 plus tax, as I recall. I was about to get one but I figured I could easily get one that fell off the truck from some of my "friends" that live in the government housing behind my family's liquor store

 

Well, if you can still get them I'll bet there are a few people here who would buy them from you.

 

I have a Valentine 1 in my Camaro and a Escort 7500 in the Lexus, both windshield mounted and hard wired. In my opinion the Valentine 1 is hands down the best radar detector on the market!! After seeing mine, my father got rid of his K-40 and bought two Valentine 1's; one for his SS and one for the Mercedes. You can't imagine how nice it is knowing which direction the cop is coming from!! Just my opinion.